Prosecutor Won’t Pursue Felony Charges Against Beach

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — A Montana prosecutor says he's not pursuing felony charges at this time against a man accused of sexually propositioning a 12-year-old girl two months after he was granted clemency in a 1979 murder.

Yellowstone County Attorney Scott Twito said Friday that he's sent the complaint involving Barry Beach to the Billings city attorney. That means the matter still could be considered for potential misdemeanor charges.

Beach told The Associated Press that he had no comment on the case.

Twito also sent his findings to the Department of Corrections. Beach was placed on probation for 10 years as a condition of the clemency granted him by Gov. Steve Bullock last November.

He was convicted in 1983 for killing Kimberly Nees of Poplar, but had long denied any involvement.